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How to Diagnose Tumble Dryer Issues

There are three main functions of a tumble dryer: heating, spinning and drying (the clue is in the name for the third one). So if your tumble dryer has stopped doing one of these three things you’ll need to investigate. Here are some common problems which could be the cause of your tumble dryer woes.

What To Do If Your Tumble Dryer Isn’t Heating

If your tumble dryer won’t heat it could mean the heater has got too hot and tripped. Opening the door whilst the tumble dryer is running (so that the fan stops) or not cleaning the lint filters before running the machine can cause the heater to trip, but on most models it can be reset very easily. You may have to unscrew the back panel of the tumble dryer but other than that this fix can be as easy as pressing a button. Watch how to do it:

If you’re finding it hard to get to the back of your machine, where the switch is usually located, you can move your dryer more easily with a trolley designed for the purpose.

What To Do If Your Tumble Dryer Isn’t Spinning

It could be a faulty belt causing your tumble dryer to stop spinning. The belt wraps around the tumble dryer drum and connects to a motor which turns it and in turn spins the drum. If the belt has become slack over time or has broken it will therefore need replacing.

There’ll usually be a fair bit of unscrewing involved to get to the belt, so pay attention to how your machine fits together and take pictures along the way if necessary. Here’s how to fit a new belt:

When buying your replacement belt input your model number to be sure you get the right one to fit your machine.

What To Do If Your Tumble Dryer Isn’t Drying

Once again it could be clogged lint filters to blame if your tumble dryer seems to be working well but isn’t drying efficiently. Filters clogged with a build up of lint and fluff won’t be able to ventilate air through your machine properly. You’ll need to remove and clean them – a quick and easy job if you know where in your machine they’re located. If not just check your manual or watch our video:

If the lint filters are relatively clean, there is no build up of fluff or debris visible in the drum and you have an outside venting dryer check the vent hose too. Once you’ve removed any lint in your machine you can also add some tumble dryer balls to the drum for more efficient drying.

Hopefully these fixes have helped you get your tumble dryer working again. But if you’re still not sure what’s causing the fault or have an idea of the problem but need help fixing it, our playlist of tumble dryer videos contains lots more handy information to help you.